Sockitecture

I've had a fascination with beads and buttons from childhood. While my Mom was sewing, I would play with her buttons and create all kinds of worlds with them. To this day, I adore creating worlds with beads and buttons in whatever medium they will fit into. Here's a one sock wonder from a Lily Chin design I tried out with "seconds yarn" and some tasty beads I bought at a Stitches convention once. I actually have no intention of knitting the other sock. I just wanted to see the instructions manifested, so I'm happy with the one. It's now an official practice sock to take the experience to new places.

My dad was an architect. I find sock design so very similar to how he'd design buildings...with different levels and design interests. I kind of like perceiving socks in that way....little buildings for the feet! Imagine the possibilities if you see them in that way. 

Fresh off the Needle Runway....

I just ordered these for my shop. I love fresh ideas! I love my Denise needle set too. It's a staple when traveling because all the needles are there and even when a part or a needle gets left behind, they are inexpensive to replace. Now they've added more needle tip sizes and color options to the sets. There's also a new set for knitters who want all their crochet needles along with them at the same time. Any tool that opens up more possibilities finds a welcoming home in my shop.

Hoodarfs Hit the 'Hood

This week, NY Fashion Week introduced the Hoodarf...a combo of hoody and scarf. I'm bracing myself to start hearing customers ask for knit patterns to make Hoodarfs. The closest thing to a Hoodarf that I've designed is this hoody for a dog friend of mine who hates cats. But, I think I want to call that an Arfhoody.

First UFO Sighting of 2011

Starting off New Year's resolutions with the "UFO (Unfinished Object) of the Month Club." This month's UFO is a Debbie Bliss tunic knit in a milk yarn ( I offer both the instructions and many colors of milk yarn in my shop.) I was testing out both the instructions and the yarn. I adore the drape of this yarn and the softness of it. I also love when people talk to you when you're knitting with milk yarn in public....the reactions are priceless! Always a conversation piece when you knit something out of milk yarn. (One five year old wanted to taste my knitting.)

Do you know how fun it is to knit a sweater on small needles out of beige yarn? This is why this was at the top of the UFO list. It helped to call the color of the yarn by it's real name....Latte. So, it's off to other UFOs. It's too nice a feeling to complete one to stop. I wish you many completions of UFOs this year.

What a Cool Way to Start the Year!!!

Put on your dancing shoes for the new year...because the coolest project for 2011 is "the Sketchbook Challenge !!! (Not to be confused with the Sketchbook Project!) I was planning on starting a new art journal this year, but when I heard about this awesome project, I want to jump on board and encourage any fellow sketchers to come along!

 Each month, a theme will be chosen. Then some of the most well-known art journalers and instructors will share their processes and journal pages with us. Talk about an inspiring 2011!!! You can post your entries, as well as be awed by what Sketch Challenge artists and fellow artists from around the world have created!

Check out the December 6th entry on this blog: The Sketchbook Challenge: Welcome to the Sketchbook Challenge! to find out all the details. You can also meet the Sketchbook Challenge artists on The Sketchbook Challenge blog and hear about their favorite materials, processes, and philosophies. There are give-aways and prizes involved as well.
What a win-win way to bring artists together and keep us excited about sticking to our art journals in the upcoming year!

A New Place to Explore Creativity

Though Columbus Circle looked tempting to visit on Black Friday, I spent a sparky day browsing the inspiring sketch book entries of "The Sketchbook Project" at the brand new Art Library in Williamsburg Brooklyn!!! It just opened November 20th.

It's located here at 103A N.3rd St.

When you walk in, you see all kinds of new and retro blank journals and books for sale. There are also shelves, as you see on the left, of the sketch book journals entered from past and current "Sketch book Projects." (See Sept. 24th blog entry for annual project details.)

There are also friendly librarians to help you in the back of the library.

There are many journals to browse through. How exciting it is to see how each entry has such a unique perspective to it. Some found unusual ways to make the covers and pages their own, some were 3D, some 2D, some plain on the outside---yet loaded on the inside, some even did as much sketching as they felt like and left the rest blank.

But, you can see...there are many more shelves just waiting for YOUR sketch book entry!

You can sit at a table and leaf through as many journals as you wish for as long as you'd like...or just come in and check out the cool retro journals and books from other countries and eras on display that are for sale.

The journals I saw were from all levels and age group of artist. Some were filled with how-to's of collage and fiber art techniques, some were filled with current teenage interests and heartthrobs, some had very touching illustrated stories in them, some were funny, some blatent, some sad, some included breath-taking artwork and photographs...the sketch books were as diverse as the people who created them.

I am so thrilled there is a library where we can explore how creatives express themselves and that the Art House Co-op has created so many opportunities for people to be a part of.

Bookmark this site if you want to become a part of the cool projects Art House Co-op offers Projects Open For Participation » Art House Co-op | We build art projects and communities

If you can't make it to this library and would still enjoy a creativity fix, check out the sketch books posted online. There are some brilliant creatives in our world and I'm so thrilled Art House Co-op has given everyone the opportunity to express their creative voice.

Submissions » Art House Co-op | We build art projects and communities

Meeting Your Hugest Art Influence

In my May 10th 2009 blog entry, I mentioned the book that forever influenced my art life. I neglected to mention the author of that book. How could I do such a thing?!!! Probably because she deserves her own separate blog entry.

Meet Julie Schafler Dale. She has a beautiful gallery on the East side of Manhattan where she sells the most gorgeous wearable art out there today. Some of the wearable artists in her book, Art to Wear  Amazon.com: Art to Wear (9780896596641): Julie Schafler Dale, Otto Stupakoff: Books (which came out in 1986), are still at it and it's fascinating to see their artistic evolution over the decades. Even the machine knit jacket Julie is wearing shows the evolution of Linda Mendelson's work. Julie Artisans' - Linda Mendelson

I just love when someone has such passion for art that they live it through creating a gallery, a book and a lifestyle...and they are kind enough to allow you to live one of your dreams by allowing a snapshot taken of you with the person who most influenced your art life.

From reading the reviews of Julie's book on Amazon, I know I'm not the only one Julie has ignited with a wearable art spark! Not only has Julie Shafler Dale influenced our art by sharing her passion...but she is proof that when we share our passion...it sparks a flame in the hearts of many who we may or may never meet.